Farm-gate



(No Model.)

' D. W. PETTIOOFPER.

FARM GATE.

Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

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se kid mm N. PETERS. PholM-dhographcr. Wil linglom 04a UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

DAVID \V. PETTICOFFER, OF DENVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

FARM-=GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,071, dated August 21, 1888.

Application filed September 24, 1887. Serial No. 250,564. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID W. PETTICOF- FER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Farm-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in farm-gates, and has for its object the ready elevation of the free or swinging end thereof, in order that it may, as it is swung to and fro, clear ordinary obstructions uponthe ground, such as snow, ice, stones, and the like.

My invention consists in the combination, with a gate having its horizontal members pivoted to the battens hinged to the post upon which the gate is swung, of bars secured near the bottom of said battens and rising diagonally toward the swinging end of the gate and supporting a weighted lever, the said lever having its forward end connected with the bottom of the swinging end of the gate, and carrying a weight upon the other end to support said swinging end when it is raised, that the gate may be swung upon its hinges.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one method of applying my invention, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a second. In both views the full lines show the gate in its normal position, and the dotted lines the same as elevated to be swung to or fro.

Like letters indicate similar parts in both views.

In Fig. 1, the letter A indicates a series of parallel bars pivoted between the vertical battens B B and O by pivots b. The rear parallel battens, O, are carried up some distance above the top bar of the gate, and serve as guides for the loaded end of the lever L as it oscillates. The gate is hung by means of the eyes (2, formed integral with the plates D, bolted to the sides of the rear battens. The lower plates, D, are provided with arms (1, to the inner faces of which the diagonal bars E are pivoted by bolts 0. These bars are braced by tension-rods e, and eX- tend upward above the upper bar, A, to support the vertically-oscillating lever L, pivoted between them. This lever is supplied with a weight, IV, at its rear end, adjustable longitudinally thereon, for the purpose of regulating the action of the lever. The other end of the lever is connected with the lower horizontal bar at such distance forward of with smaller gates and gates having palings P instead of parallel bars. In this case the lever L is located about the center of the gate, the diagonal bar M taking the place of the bars E in Fig. 1, being pivoted between the rear battens and inclined forward much more than I l. The fulcrum Q of the lever is located in the outer end of the bar M, which is supported by a tensionbar, N, doing the work of the rod 0 in Fig. l, and pivoted between the rear battens, G, below the upper bars, A. This bar N is placed in the position shown by reason of the great inclination of the bar M. Diagonal strengthening-braces R also connect the outer end of the bar M with the outer face of the batten G, to further steady and support the fulcrum Q. The supporting-rod F is much shortened, and the free end of the lever, which oscillates against the outer face of one of the battens G, is prevented from moving laterally by the guardrod 1', fastened to the same batten. In this construction, as in that first described, all points of connection are pivots.

In the construction herein described the weight of the gate is in a great measure thrown on the bottom of the post to which it is hinged, thus removing much of the strain from the upper end of the post and preventing it from being pulled out of the perpendicular.

Having thus described my invention,whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a gate, the combination, with the diagonal bars secured to the bottom of the rear battens, and the tension members connecting said bars and battens, of the weighted lever pivoted to the aipper ends of the diagonal bars, and the supporting-rods connecting the said lever and the forward part of the gate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

\Vitnesses: DAVID W. PETTICOFFER.

WM. R. GERHART, GEO. A. LANE. 

